Lessons from the ground up : African development that works

The factors are grouped into seven categories, as follows. (1) The more local people depend on resource-based household economies or fear losses in productivity, the more likely they are to invest in effective CBRM. Diversifying household economies by improving agricultural techniques and participating in off-farm activities is a common way to reduce the pressure on critical resources and reduce risks to livelihood. (2) Local economic opportunities and market incentives that make environmental conservation profitable promote effective CBRM. Communities will practice environmentally sound economic activities when they are economically more beneficial than activities that degrade the environment. (3) CBRM is more likely to be sustainable when a culture encourages environmentally sound management practices. Throughout rural Africa, the lands and resources protected for sociocultural purposes derive their value from religious fulfillment, social prestige, or other intangible benefits. (4) Real or perceived security about access to and control of land and other productive resources increases the likelihood that local users will make long-term investments essential to sustainability. Evidence shows that the level of investments people make increases in direct proportion to their sense of security. (5) Effective CBRM, whether on individual, household, or communal land, often depends on the coordinated actions of a group of resource users. Local leaders can play important roles in promoting and legitimizing resource management systems. (6) Most effective CBRM practices use local land, natural resources, labor, indigenous knowledge, and capital. Given the scarcity of some of these inputs, external assistance is becoming more necessary. However, most rural farmers do not receive such assistance, and when they do, it sometimes proves more harmful than helpful. (7) Government support lends credibility to those who practice effective CBRM and encourages others to do so. Appendices include references and lists of both published and unpublished case studies.